Hove MP to set up cross-party group to tackle trains

The Labour MP for Hove, Peter Kyle, is setting up a cross-party parliamentary group to scrutinise Southern Rail commuter services.

Mr Kyle is setting up the group with Sir Nicholas Soames, the Conservative MP for the neighbouring Mid Sussex constituency.

Earlier today (Thursday 16 June) they said: “The Southern Rail franchise, serving commuter towns and the city of Brighton and Hove in the extreme south of England, has let down passengers repeatedly in recent months.

“At times this single franchise has accounted for the majority of train delays for our whole country.

“Thousands of people are arriving late to work which affects their livelihoods and our economy.

“Thousands more arrive home late in the evening which affects their family life and the health of our communities.

“In the face of such comprehensive failure, individual MPs in constituencies served by the Southern franchise feel unable to deliver a degree of pressure and influence that will deliver the tangible results our constituents need and deserve.

“In the past we have passed on the promises and assurances received from rail bosses and government to our constituents in good faith only to have been left as disappointed as passengers by Southern’s failure to deliver.

“This is bad not only for Southern’s relationship with passengers but is also damaging the trust between MPs and the residents they serve.”

Mr Kyle and Sir Nicholas have committed to establish and jointly chair an all-party parliamentary group of MPs.

They plan to meet regularly with the sole purpose of scrutinising the operational effectiveness and implementation of Southern’s improvement plan.

Both MPs met with the chief executive Charles Horton and Dyan Crowther, the chief operating officer, of the franchise operator GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway) last week.

They discussed this proposal and were assured full co-operation and transparency with its operation.

They said: “We therefore anticipate appearances of senior managers and operational staff before the group at our regular meetings in order to enable full scrutiny of the franchise by MPs on behalf of the passengers we represent.

“The Rail Minister has also been informed, is fully supportive and will similarly make herself available to the group to enable its work.”

They added: “Misery is being inflicted upon the people we were elected to serve for no other reason than them needing to get to the office on time, do a hard day’s work and be home in time to enjoy an evening with their family. It is a grotesque way to run a modern rail service.

“The Southern rail service passes through political boundaries as well as geographical ones and so must our response if we are to represent people effectively.

“That’s why we are working together on this essential service in the hope of offering focused, ongoing and robust scrutiny of Southern’s operation and offer passengers the fierce advocacy they so desperately need.”

All MPs in the Southern commuter belt to the south of London will be invited to the inaugural meeting jointly chaired by Sir Nicholas and Mt Kyle at a date to be set for soon after the referendum. The full terms, remit, and scope will be agreed at that meeting.

They said that they anticipated the group registering as a formal APPG (all-party parliamentary group) and adopt some of the operational style of select committees.

This would involve inviting witnesses, launching specific inquiries and seeking to provide greater information and scrutiny to passengers and the public on an ongoing basis.